IIPI Funding: 93% US PTO ("Building Software Industry in Developing Countries")

[Seth Johnson <seth.johnson@RealMeasures.dyndns.org>]

Conference on "Strategies for Building Software Industries in Developing
Countries:"
> http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2004/04/12/daily62.html


But the real shocker here is the page on "Funding" at:
> http://www.iipi.org/about/funding.htm

The pie chart is quite illustrative.  When the text says "a significant
portion of IIPI's financial support comes from the United States Government"
they are not kidding.  The portion they're referring to is 93%!  The other
7% is 4% "corporate" and 3% "WIPO."


Funding page text below.  Conference press release below that.  Conference
site text below that.

Seth

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> http://www.iipi.org/about/funding.htm

Funding

The IIPI was founded with donations from private corporations. These
"capital contributions" supported the organization in its formative years.
However, because the importance of intellectual property rights and healthy
intellectual property regimes are critical not only to specific businesses
and industries, but to the economic well being of entire countries, it is
the Institute's belief that governments and international development
organizations will ultimately be the major sponsors of our work.

A significant portion of IIPI's financial support now comes from the United
States Government. In December 2001, with support from the United States
Congress, the Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United
States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to execute a variety of projects.
The Institute has completed several projects in conjunction with the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is working to expand
this cooperation through the execution of further projects. The Institute
also expects to work closely in future with the major international
development banks on various large-scale projects such as modernizing patent
offices, establishing a commercial performance venue in Jamaica, or creating
a world patent fund.

The logos and links below are of businesses and organizations that have
supported the Institute.

---

> http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2004/04/12/daily62.html


LATEST NEWS

7:02 PM HST Thursday

How developing countries can develop software

Computer software professionals from around the world will come to Honolulu
next month for an international conference on software development in
developing nations.
 
The conference, "Strategies for Building Software Industries in Developing
Countries," will be sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based International
Intellectual Property Institute.

"Examining the role intellectual property plays in spurring the development
of different software products and services will be a primary focus of this
event," said project coordinator Eric Garduño.

But it will also cover the evolution of open source software products, the
role governments play in attracting software business and the strategies
software companies have used to flourish in different countries.

The conference will be cosponsored by the University of Hawaii at Manoa and
by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and will take place at the
East-West Center on May 19-21. Registration is free. Registration is being
done online at www.iipi.org/activities/softwareconference.htm.

---

> http://www.iipi.org/activities/softwareconference.htm


IIPI Conference on

Strategies for Building 
Software Industries in Developing Countries

May 19-21, 2004

East-West Center
University of Hawai'i at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawai'i


With support from:

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa

The United States Patent and Trademark Office


Conference Overview


Software and Development 

The growth of a strong software industry is viewed by many developing
country policy makers as a core component to their Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) sector, and thus an essential element in
their road to development.  Indeed, a successful software industry has the
potential to contribute much to the economy of a developing country,
particularly through increased export opportunities.   

Developing countries and aid agencies have thus invested heavily in support
of building domestic software industries, particularly by investing in
education and technology adoption.  More recently, many developing countries
have also begun programs supporting the domestic development and acquisition
of open source software as a means to technologically leap-frog ahead in
this field.

While the various measures and programs developing countries have instituted
are meant to promote the growth of domestic software companies, they may
also have long-term negative effects upon the competitiveness of their
software industry.  Without careful and enlightened policies, the
well-intentioned efforts of some developing country governments may stunt
the growth of their software companies and in the end do more harm than
good.


The Conference 

The International Intellectual Property Institute, dedicated to advancing
the use of the intellectual property systems by developing countries, will
hold the Conference on Strategies for Building Software Industries in
Developing Countries.  This conference will bring together experts and
software industry professionals from around the world to identify, discuss
and debate the various policy options governments have to cultivate their
software industries and what strategies software companies can employ to
ensure their success in the international market place.  In particular, this
Conference will: 

 - Examine the role intellectual property plays in spurring the development
of different forms of software products and services and what strategies
companies can use to leverage their intellectual property rights in
software;

 - Explore the evolution of open source software products, how they compare
to proprietary software products in terms of cost, security and
functionality, and why software purchasers have decided to favor proprietary
software over open source software, or vice-versa;

 - Review the strategies software companies in developing countries have
used to grow into successful firms, and whether other software companies in
different countries can use these strategies;

 - Discuss the part governments can play in facilitating the growth of a
domestic software industry, particularly with regard to procurement policy,
programs to aid human capital and technology development, and intellectual
property enforcement.  


Conference Participation

This conference is designed for a diverse audience, including government
officials responsible for industrial policy, science policy, trade policy
and software procurement, implementation and maintenance, representatives
from aid agencies and organizations that provide assistance in the areas of
ICT, education and infrastructure development, and software industry
professionals and analysts.   

Registration is free of charge but space is limited to 200 participants. To
register for this conference, please continue on to the registration page by
clicking the link below.


CONFERENCE REGISTRATION PAGE
(http://mail.iipi.org/addmodform_swconf_031208.asp)


Conference Venue and Accommodations

The Conference will be held at the East-West Center, located on the campus
of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.  The East-West Center, primarily
known for its role in promoting understanding among the nations of Asia, the
Pacific and the United States, also provides an outstanding venue for
international conferences in its Hawai'i Imin International Conference
Center

Accommodations for this conference may be made with the Ala Moana Hotel,
located in Honolulu, Hawai'i.  Special room rates for conference attendees
have been arranged with this hotel.  Room rates are USD $89.00 per night
(pre-tax, single or double occupancy).  This room rate will is guaranteed
for reservations made prior to April 19th, 2004.  Hotel reservations should
be made directly with the hotel.

You may reach the Ala Moana Hotel at 1-888-367-4811 (US and International
Toll Free) or you can e-mail the hotel at reservations@alamoanahotel.com. 
Be sure to request the special room rate for the "IIPI Software Conference"
when making your reservations. 

If you would like additional information about attending this conference,
you may contact IIPI by phone at 1-202-544-6610 or by email at
info@iipi.org.